Founding CEO - New Venture AI

Who are we?

iBanFirst is a fast-growing European fintech that is revolutionizing international payments for SMEs. Founded in 2016, our platform empowers Small & Medium Multinationals (SMMs) to regain control over their payment operations: currency conversion, international transactions and foreign exchange risk management across 140 countries — quickly, transparently and securely.

We make life easier for SMEs through an advanced technology platform — including automation, APIs and AI — combined with dedicated expertise, offering the best of both worlds: the agility of a SaaS solution and the reliability of a trusted partner.

By simplifying complexity, iBanFirst helps thousands of bold companies seize global business opportunities with peace of mind.

Key figures

• 350+ employees across 14 offices in 11 European countries
• 30+ nationalities represented
• 10,000 corporate clients
• €80M in revenue in 2025, with a target of around €100M in 2026
• Profitable for nearly two years
• Ranked for 7 consecutive years in the Financial Times FT1000
• An NPS of 87.5, reflecting the simplicity, speed and quality of our service

 

About the opportunity

iBanFirst is exploring and launching a new entrepreneurial initiative at the intersection of artificial intelligence, finance and business transformation.

The initiative is supported by iBanFirst and its Founder & CEO, but is designed to operate with the speed, autonomy and ambition of a new venture.

We are looking for a Founding CEO to turn an initial opportunity into a real business. The project is still confidential and further details will be shared progressively during the recruitment process.

This is a highly entrepreneurial and hands-on role. You will not be joining an established business with a predefined structure, team or playbook. You will help shape the strategy, test the market, build the first relationships, sell the initial engagements and deliver the first consulting assignments before building a team.

The role is ideally based in London, with Paris or Brussels also considered.

 

The role

You will work directly with the Founder & CEO of iBanFirst and take ownership of building the new venture from its earliest stages.

In the early stages, you will be both the commercial lead and the delivery lead. You will be responsible for identifying opportunities, selling the first engagements and delivering the related consulting work directly with clients.

In the beginning, you will be highly hands-on: exploring the market, developing the proposition, speaking with potential customers and partners, structuring the first projects and testing what works.

As the business gains traction, you will progressively build the operating model, recruit a team and develop a scalable and profitable organisation.

Business building

• Build the first relationships with potential customers and partners
• Identify and qualify opportunities
• Scope client needs and translate them into clear proposals and engagements
• Sell the first consulting assignments and contribute to closing the initial deals
• Define the scope, approach, deliverables and success criteria for each engagement
• Build the first methodologies, processes and delivery standards
• Develop a repeatable and profitable model for both selling and delivering the services

Hands-on execution

• Move quickly from strategy to execution and take direct responsibility for the first engagements
• Personally deliver the initial consulting assignments, from scoping and preparation to client presentation and follow-up
• Work directly with senior client stakeholders to understand their needs, structure recommendations and support implementation
• Prepare analyses, recommendations, presentations and other client-facing deliverables
• Lead workshops, working sessions or training initiatives where relevant
• Track client outcomes, gather feedback and continuously improve the service offering
• Balance commercial development with high-quality delivery and client satisfaction

Operating model and growth

• Define the foundations of the venture’s operating model
• Establish the appropriate processes, tools and reporting routines
• Build a financially disciplined and scalable business model
• Identify the capabilities and resources required to support growth
• Recruit and develop a team once the model and priorities have been validated
• Create a strong culture based on ownership, speed, quality and customer impact

AI and technology

• Develop a strong understanding of how AI is changing business and finance
• Identify practical opportunities to use AI to improve products, services or ways of working
• Stay informed about relevant tools, technologies and market developments
• Help ensure that the venture remains pragmatic, useful and focused on measurable impact

 

What success looks like

After 3 months

• A clear view of the market opportunity and priority customer needs
• Initial positioning and value proposition defined
• First customer and partner conversations underway
• First opportunities identified, sold and delivered directly
• Initial client feedback collected and incorporated into the service offering
• Initial commercial and operating assumptions tested
• A clear roadmap for the next stage of development

After 6 months

• Initial commercial traction and first projects or pilots underway
• A more clearly validated and repeatable offer
• First operating processes and delivery standards in place
• A clear view of the resources and capabilities required to scale
• Recommendations for the next phase of investment and growth

After 12 months

• A credible and increasingly repeatable business model
• A growing pipeline and initial revenues
• A clear operating model and development roadmap
• The first team members recruited where relevant
• A strong foundation for building a scalable and profitable business

Who you are

Above all, you have a founder mindset.

You are energised by building from scratch, working with limited resources and figuring things out as you go. You are comfortable moving betwee